Stick or Twist: Which Premier League Managers Should Stay in Charge for 2024/25?
By the end of the 2023–2024 season, a lot of top European clubs were in the market for a new manager. Liverpool announced Klopp is leaving, Xavi was leaving Barcelona (until he wasn’t) and Tuchel is leaving Bayern Munich. Erik Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are on the hot seats at Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively.
Contrary to the norm, the 2023–2024 Premier League season was calm on the managers front; only three clubs have changed their managers during the campaign.
In this article, we review Premier League managers’ positions before the start of the 2024–2025 season. Which clubs should cut ties by the end of the season? Which managers should leave by their own volition? What clubs should stick to what has been working up to this point? Which managers should start the next season on the hot seat?
This article will not tackle Arne Slot’s upcoming hiring at Liverpool or Chris Wilder at Sheffield United because they are guaranteed not to be a Premier League team next season.
The Good
For these clubs and Premier League managers, everything has been working perfectly well to this point. Some of these clubs had teething problems at the start but now everything is working perfectly.
Aston Villa: Since the hiring of Unai Emery, everything has been going perfectly at Villa. The Spanish manager guided them to a Conference League spot last season.
This season, Villa have spent the majority of their time in the top 4 and are in the semi-final of a European competition. Nothing more can be really said about the fantastic work Emery has done at Villa.
Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou managed to get the best out of Antonio Conte’s outcasts. Tottenham are in fifth place despite losing Harry Kane and the team is playing a very good brand of football. With some backing, Tottenham may be a dangerous team with the Australian coach.
Although they have struggled as of late, the early days of Ange’s reign do show some promise.
AFC Bournemouth: After a tough start to the season, Bournemouth are flying under Iraola. They are on course for their highest finish and highest points tally in Premier League history. With some results going their way till the end of the season, they may snatch a European competition spot next season.
Many questioned the decision to let Gary O’Neil go, and they may still have that opinion. However, it is undisputable that Iraola has had a great season with the Cherries.
Fulham: Fulham have become a steady mid table team under Marco Silva. Relegation never poses a threat to them, and occasionally they are capable of defeating the top team. There is no need for a change.
With a mid-table finish and a cup run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the Portuguese man is for sure a keep at Fulham.
Everton: To guide Everton to Premier League safety with the points deduction and the takeover uncertainty, Sean Dyche deserves manager of the season consideration. No words are enough to describe how good of a job he has done this season.
Without the deductions, the Toffees would be sitting just one point behind Brighton. Who would have predicted that before this season? It is a remarkable year for Dyche considering the limited resources at the club due to FFP.
Crystal Palace: Things could not have gone better for Palace since the hiring of Glasner. The Austrian manager guided his team to a famous win at Anfield and took them from the relegation battle to the mid table. Amazing job for a manager who took over mid-season. Palace fans should be excited for next year, but it is important they keep their star men.
Leicester City: Getting Leicester back to the Premier League was the target and Enzo Maresca has done that. It was only one year spent in England’s second division, and fans of the Foxes will hope that is the last time for a while they play there.
Leicester could start next season with a points deduction, which certainly would be a kick in the teeth after an impressive year in the Championship.
The Pressure Is On
For these clubs, these managers have done such a good job since their hiring that they deserve a chance to get another season at the helm. However, they need to achieve something special with their clubs in the next season.
Arsenal: If Mikel Arteta does not win the Premier league this season, it will be his second failed challenge for a Premier League title in as many seasons. The Spanish manager has revitalised Arsenal but does it make a difference if the club does not win anything? The upcoming season will be Arteta’s fifth full season in charge; it is time to win some major silverware.
Newcastle: Eddie Howe has done a masterful job at Newcastle. From fighting relegation to UEFA Champions League participation. 2023/2024 has been a disappointment but Eddie Howe deserves a chance to put things back on track. Returning to European Competitions should be the bare minimum next season.
Brentford: Thomas Frank has done an amazing job at Brentford. The Danish manager guided the team to the Premier League and they have been a midtable team under his guidance for their two seasons there. Injuries and suspensions hampered the 2023–2024 season but there is enough credit in the bank for Frank to correct things. Brentford needs to return to being a midtable Premier League team and fight for a Europa Conference League spot.
Burnley: Vincent Kompany has done an amazing job at Burnley in his first season in the Championship. They achieved a record points haul and Burnley have stuck to their brand of football even in the Premier League.
It took the Belgian manager some time to figure out the Premier League but things started to click. If he stirs them to Premier League safety, he deserves to guide them next season. If not, Kompany proved he can do it in the Championship, so there is no reason not to give him the chance.
Chelsea: Optimism struck when Mauricio Pochettino was hired. The Argentinian looked like the perfect guy to lead the development of a young and vibrant team. Instead, no emotional connection was formed between him and Chelsea fans and the team looks stale.
While Chelsea’s underlying numbers are good, the Argentinian deserves a chance to see those results on the pitch. A UEFA Champions League spot should be the bare minimum next season.
Fresh Starts?
Whether due to ownership changes or performance reasons, these clubs are in dire need for a fresh start and the breath of fresh air and optimism that hiring a new manager brings.
Manchester United: The less said about this Manchester United campaign, the better. The team is conceding record shots and chances and is putting in relegation-level performances every week while lacking a clear identity. After INEOS changed every leadership position in the club, a fresh face is needed in the dugout.
West Ham United: Moyes guided West Ham to a European trophy. They have been participating in European competitions every season under him but the fans are asking for a better brand of football.
Whenever the Scottish manager tries to play the brand West Ham fans are asking for, the team concedes a lot of goals. West Ham will always be grateful for Moyes and his achievements but it is time for a fresh face that uses the best of their squad abilities and delivers the kind of football this squad can play.
Nottingham Forest: Whether Nottingham stays or goes down, their choice of managers is questionable. They have good attacking talent but they always insist on hiring managers with a defensive mindset. It is time for Nottingham to find a manager that suits their squad capabilities.
Nuno Espirito Santos is not the man for the job.
Time To Go. For Their Own Good.
These clubs should be grateful for their managers and should do everything for their managers to stay in their jobs. But would the managers of these clubs be better somewhere else?
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola achieved everything that is there to achieve in English football. The Spanish manager won a domestic treble. He won The Treble.
If he wins the Premier League this season, it would be his fourth in a row. He would achieve what Sir Alex Ferguson have failed to do, so is there anything more to achieve? Would staying any longer harm his Premier League legacy more than add to it?
Brighton & Hove Albion: At the start of the Seagulls relationship with Roberto De Zerbi, it seemed a perfect match. An evolution of the football Graham Potter was delivering with this team. The Italian manager guided Brighton to a Europa League spot. This season, things turned sour.
Brighton’s lack of ambition in comparison to his own seems to annoy De Zerbi constantly. His press conferences turned into subtle shots at club ownership. The Seagulls won’t change a model that has been working perfectly for them nor should they.
Is there anything really remaining for the Italian manager to achieve under this Brighton ownership model? Shouldn’t the Italian find a club to match his own ambition?
Wolverhampton Wanderers: A lot of pundits predicted Wolverhampton to go down this season. The squad is so thin that they hired Gary O’Neil three days before the season. Instead of fighting relegation, Wolverhampton have been hovering around the Top 10 all season.
The job the English manager has done this season and last season with Bournemouth is outstanding. The English manager deserves ownership that appreciates his talent and ambition. If Wolverhampton can not invest in the squad, Gary O’Neil should take his talents elsewhere.
Luton Town: Under Rob Edwards, the Hatters got back to the the League they helped form but never played in. Luton plays a good brand of football with a squad that lacks the requisite quality for the Premier League.
Nobody expected them to be fighting for survival at Gameweek 37. The Welsh manager deserves a chance to show his talents in the Premier League with a squad of the requisite quality. But who will take the chance on him?
Ipswich Town: From the bottom of League One to the Premier League. Two promotions in two and half seasons and the EFL manager of the season. Not even the most optimistic Ipswich fan could have dreamed their team would be playing in the Premier League when they hired Mckenna.
The only way from here is downward and Kieran Mckenna should take a job with a midtable Premier League team if he wants the top-level job he covets one day. Ipswich needs to do the impossible to match his ambition and keep him.
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